Floating-trim stud



Dec. 1s, 1928. 1,696,156

P. E. FENTON FLOATING TRIM STUD Filed No#l 14, 1927 y Patented Dec. 18, 1928.

UNITED STATESl PATErVr OFFICE.

PAUL E. FENTON, OF THOMASTON. CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR VT SCOVILL MANUFAC- TURING COMPANY, 0F WATERBURY, NECTICUT.

CONNECTICUT, A` CORPORATION 0F CON- FLOATING-TRIM STUD.

' Application led November 14, 1927. Serial No. 233,194.

The object of this invention is to provide a stud for use primarily, but not exclusively, in attaching the trimming to automobile bodies which are built of metal, the stud being secured in place'in Such Way that it may move or float on its attaching or supporting element to accommodate itself to the location of its complementary socket member.

In assembling the studs. it is desirable to have some means for retaining the stud in position when applied to the cardboard or other attaching or supporting element, but this meansmust be of such a character as not to injure the elastic limit of the spring shank and head of the stud, and it is also desirable that this means should be connectedwith the stud in a substantially fixed relation which will not interfere with the fioating character of the stud by which the stud may move on its vattaching or supportino* element in seeking to register with the hole in a metallic element -Whieh it engages.

The invention consists of a spring washer that may be slipped over, the head of the stud bv a slight compression of the head and sliank of the stud Without impairing its elastic limit, and then iind a position on the shank ofthe stud Where it is retained in such relation to the attaching or supporting element that it will notinterfere with, but on the contrary will freely allow the loating of the stud to find its register and engagement with the part which it engages, as I will proceed now to explain more fully and iinally claim.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention, 1n the several figures of which like parts are similarly designated, Figure l is a sectional elevation ot parts of ythe metallic element, the attaching or supporting clement, the upholstery and the stud and its retaining element in position ot use. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the Vstud. Fig. 3 is a top plan view ot' one form of spring Washer. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section ot' a stud with the Washer of Fig. 3 in position thereon. Fig. 5 is a top plan view, and Fig. 6 a cross section on the line ($G of Fig. 5', of another form of 'spring washer. Fig. 7 is a top plan View, and Fig. b a cross section on the line 8-8 of Fiv. 7, of still another` form of spring vwasier.

Fig. 9 is a top plan view, and Fig. 10 is a cross section on line 10-10 of Fig. 9. of still another form of spring Washer. Fig.

11 is a longitudinal section oi' a modified form of stud shank in which nibs are used to hold the Washerin given position. Fig. l2 is aA view like Fig. 1 but showing the Washer applied'next to the inside lip of the upholstery. Fig. 13 is a side elevation oi' another form of stud in which the washer limiting feature is a compressed knurl.

As already stated, the invention is primarily designed for use in attaching the trimming'or trim of metal-bodied automobiles, but it is obvious that it may be ap plied to other larticles Where useful. I will describe m f invention as applied to automobile bodles; and referring to Fig. 1. the numeral l may indicate a cross section of an angular metal door-frame of an automobile, having the inturned flange 2 provided with the openings 3, which last serve as sockets `to engage the heads of the stud members. 4 may represent the cardboard or' other attaching or supporting element 0r member used in trimming the frame, and 5 may represent the trimming ot' leather. cloth or other material, which is laid over the outer side of the cardboard and its end or edge 6 turned over upon the inner side of the cardboard and confined b v the fastening means comprising the socket 3, and a. stud, designated generally by the nu meral 7. i

I have shown herein three forms of such studs, in each of which the head member comprises the slitted spring shank 8, terminat-ing in a base or flange 5) at one end and aconoidal head 10 at the other end. The'ilange 9 isonly partly slitted.

. It will be'observed that in none of these forms of studs are there any prongs which engagethe cardboard or other attaching or supporting element, .but the flange is arranged to contact with the outside ot' the cardboard and the shank passes through a hole 11 in'the cardboard which is ot considerably larger size than the diameter of -the shank of the stud so as to permit treedom of movement. of the stud in seeking to register with the hole 3. and the stud is held in such floating position on the card'- board by a spring Washer applied to the shank on the inner side of the cardboard between the cardboard and the turned-over end 6 of the trimming of leather, cloth 0r other material, herein referred to as the upholstery. But as shown in Fig. 12, the washer ma be applied on the inner side of this turne -over portion 6.

The spring washer ma be of any of a number of forms, some of which are herein shown. Referring to the form shovvrI in F igs. 1, 3, 4 and 12, the washer comprises an annulus 12, and a barrel portion 13 depend-- ing from the inside thereof and a radial slit 14. The inside diameter of the washer and its barrel is smaller than the greatest diameter of the head of the stud and of substantially the same diameter as the expanded shank, so that the washer may be sprung over the head of the stud and then slipped down below such head in Aposition to engage the shank with suilicient friction incident to the resilience of the shank and the washer, to hold the washer in position.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the washer may have an annular body 15 provided with a number of radial slits 16 extending only partway through the body, but yielding to permit the passage of the washer over the head of the stud. As-will be observed, there is no barrel employed on this form of Washer.

Another form of washer is shown in Figs. 7 and 8. In this form of washer, the stock may be somewhat thicker than in the others shown, and it has no barrel, but is a simple flat annulus 17, provided with a single radial throu h slit 18.

In igs. 9 and 10 a washer is shown of thin material, having the body 19 slightly dished, and provided with a radial through slit 20, andthe rolled-back flan e 21 instead of a barrel such as shown in igs. 1, 3, 4 and l2.

All of these Washers have suiicient resilience to permit of their being sprung over the head of the stud and then return to normal so as to engage the shank of the stud.

In order to locate the washers or any of them,'the shank may be rovided with m'bs 22, Fig.l11, with which t e washer engages. Or, instead of thenibs, there may be a compressed knurl 23, Fig. 13, which cooperates with the washer for the same purpose.

By the use of the split washer, the inside d1ameter of which is slightly less than the diameter of the shank of the stud, its resilience absorbs part of the strain of mounting over the wider diameter of the head of the stud and when it reaches the shank it can be pushed to place without distorting the stud or compressing its resilient members, because the washer itself is resilient and absorbs the strain, as stated. In the case of the washer using a barrel, its inside diameter is smaller than the diameter of the shank, and when it is pushed toits ultimate position, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 12, it binds through its resiliency and holds it and the stud in place when mounted on the cardboard.

This same princi le applies also to the spring washers or slieared washers without a barrel.

The floating feature is brought about by placing a larger hole in the cardboard than the diameter of the shank of the stud, as already stated, and the extent of float is controlled by the relative size of the hole in the cardboard and the diameter of the stud.

In prior inventions, the stud is provided with prongs which are stuck through the cardboard and clinched, and means also are provided for holding the stud in movable relation to its attaching means; but in the present invention the washer and the llange at the base of the stud take the place of such prongs and stud-holding means.

@ther variations than those described are permissible within the principle of the invention and the scope of the claims following.

What I claim is 1. A floating trim stud, comprising a stud member having a base flan e, a resilient shank and head rising there om, the head having a greater diameter than' the diameter of the shank, and a spring washer adapted to be forced over the head and into resilient engagement with the shank while the shank is under compression and to hold the stud in floating position.

2. A floating trim stud, comprising a stud member having a base flan e, a resilient shank and head rising there rom, the head having a greater diameter than the diameter of the shank, and a spring washer adapted to be forced over the head and into resilient engagement with the shank while the shank is under compression and to hold the stud in floating position, said washer having means to engage the shank to locate the washer in floating position.

3. A floating trim stud, comprising a stud member havin a base flange, a resilient shank and heafgl rising therefrom, the head having a greater diameter than the dlameter of the shank, and a spring washer adapted to be forced over the head and into resilient engagement with the shank while the shank is under compression and to hold the stud in floating position, said shank having means for cooperating with means on the Washer to locate the washer on the stud in floating position.

4.` The combination with a stud member having a resilient shank and head, of a s ring washer adapted to be forced over t e head and into resilient engagement with the shank, said washer having a' depending barrel encircling the shank and in sustaining engagement with the shank.

5. The combination with a stud member having a resilient shank and head, of a spring washer adapted to be forced over.

the head and into resilientengagement with 5 the shank, said Washer having a depending barrel, the inside diameter of the Washer and its barrel being smaller than the greatest diameter of the head of the stud and of substantially the same diameter as the expanded shank, so that the washer may be sprung 10 over the head of the stud and then slipped down on the shank into sustaining engagement with said shank.

In testimony whereof I have' hereunto set my handthis 10th day of November A. D. 15

PAUL E. FENTON. 

